Low ICSI fertilization in two cycles—what helped you improve? Considering split IVF/ICSI
I’m 34, my husband is 35, and we have unexplained infertility. My hormone tests and HSG were normal (AMH ~6), and his semen analysis was normal. We’ve had six unsuccessful IUIs and a previous spontaneous pregnancy that ended in miscarriage.
Our two ICSI cycles:
Cycle 1: 18 retrieved → 13 mature → 7 fertilized → 5 blasts → 1 euploid
Cycle 2: 21 retrieved → 18 mature → 6 reported fertilized → 2 blasts, PGT-A pending: D6 4AB from 3PN and D7 4AA from 2PN.
Both used Gonal-F 150 IU and a Lupron trigger. Menopur was 75→150 IU in cycle 1 versus 150 IU throughout cycle 2. Birth control pretreatment was 26 versus 17 days, with a two-day break before stimulation both times.
Before cycle 3, I’m asking about splitting the eggs between conventional IVF and ICSI and reviewing whether the unfertilized eggs degenerated after ICSI or remained intact.
Has anyone with similar results improved after:
Switching to conventional IVF or split IVF/ICSI?
Sperm DNA fragmentation testing, ZyMot, or AOA?
Changes to stimulation, trigger, or birth control pretreatment?
Also, has anyone around my age had a D7 4AA blast from 2PN tested? I’d appreciate hearing your PGT-A results, knowing individual outcomes vary.
What else would you ask your team? Thank you!